Add the Dots

Supports this milestone

• understands addition as adding to and understands subtraction as taking away from. — Head Start ELOF

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Materials

• Two large dot dice (or number-and-dot cards)
• Optional counters

Steps

• Have the child roll both dice.
• Count the dots on the first die, then keep counting onto the second.
• Say the total ("Four and three make seven").
• Roll again and compare totals, optionally writing the number sentence.

Variations

• Use counters to build each number before combining.
• Race to be first to reach a target total over several rolls.

Differentiation

• For beginners, keep both dice to small numbers and count all dots.
• For older children, encourage counting on from the larger number.

Accessibility

• Provide counters or a number line for children not yet adding mentally.

Printables

Worksheets that go with this activity.

• Single-Digit Addition

Practices these skills

• Adds Single-Digit Numbers

Evidence

• Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF) — U.S. Office of Head Start · 2015 · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services